Earlier this summer, while most of us were dusting off our lawn chairs and scraping our barbecue grills, dozens of University of Texas students devoted their holiday to fight cancer. On June 3, 2022, 48 students embarked on a 4000-mile 70-day bike ride to raise money for cancer research and spread cancer awareness. The Texas 4000, from Austin, Texas, to Anchorage, Alaska, is the longest charity bicycle ride in the world.
Texas 4000 was founded in 2004 by UT Austin engineering students Chris and Mandy Condit. Many of the participants, including founder Chris Condit, have a personal connection with the cause. Condit, diagnosed at 11-years-old, is a Hodgkin’s lymphoma surviver.
UT student, Diego Carlson, is participating in the Texas 4000 this year. When he was 6-years-old he lost his grandfather to colon cancer. Carlson says, “I ride for those who aren’t able to themselves. I ride for those who may need some help carrying their burden. I ride for everyone else riding alongside me who has their own battles and stories of triumph and loss. I ride because this organization is the best way I can give back to the people who need it most, and allows me to do more than I ever could on my own.”
According to their website, “Texas 4000 empowers each student to raise $4,500, ride 2,000 training miles with his/her team, volunteer more than 50 hours in the community, and play an active role in planning every aspect of the ride to Alaska by attending weekly meetings and taking leadership positions within the team.”
Photo courtesy Earl Brown
Nearing the Finish Line
August 5, 2022, marks the 62nd day of the 2022 Texas 4000 bike ride for cancer. Cyclists will be biking on the Alaska Highway, crossing the U.S.-Canada border at Port ALCAN on August 7. After that, they will take the Tok Cutoff-Glenn Highway to Anchorage. The event will culminate in a Finish Line Festival in Anchorage on August 12.
Yukon Itinerary
August 5 – Haines Junction to Burwash Landing
August 6 – Burwash Landing to Beaver Creek
August 7 – Beaver Creek to Tok, Alaska
Alaska Itinerary
August 8 – Tok to Chistochina
August 9 – Chistochina to Glennallen
August 10 – Glennallen to Glacier View
August 11 – Glacier View to Wasilla
August 12 – The Anchorage Finish Line Festival will take place Friday, August 12th, 2022 at 5:00 P.M. at ChangePoint Church in Anchorage.
For more information, visit www.texas4000.org.
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